Machine for preparing beverages with enhanced access to internal machine components

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses a machine ( 1 ) for preparing beverages, in particular aromatic beverages such as for example espresso type coffee, comprising a machine casing ( 2 ) that presents at least one first access element ( 21 ) on a lateral face of said machine casing ( 2 ), adapted so that provides access to the interior region where there are the fluid pressurization means ( 5 ), preferentially also a second element access ( 22 ) also on a lateral face of said machine casing ( 2 ), adapted so that provides access to the interior region where there is provided a milk frothing device ( 9 ), thereby enabling its removal for periodic cleaning in ergonomic manner.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a National Stage of International Application No.PCT/PT2017/050035, filed Dec. 27, 2017, claiming priority to PortuguesePatent Application No. 109822, filed Dec. 30, 2016.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to the field of machines for preparingbeverages by means of mixing an edible substance with a pressurizedflow, such as for example machines for preparing espresso type coffee.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As known in prior art, the generality of machines for preparing aromaticbeverages by means of brewing an edible substance, such as espresso-typecoffee, tea and similar, comprises flow pressurization devices, notablyof pump type or similar. These devices present some sensibility totransport conditions, as well as present maintenance requirements duringtheir operative life span. It is therefore advantageous that thearrangement of said flow pressurization devices provides easy accessfrom outside of the machine casing, without the need of disassemblingthereof and thereby providing access to other sensitive components ofsaid beverage preparation machine.

The document EP 2946703 A1 discloses an automatic machine for preparingbeverages that presents a first door provided on a frontal region. Saiddoor is adapted so that, when in an open position, provides access to abeverage discharge device, and prevents access to the latter when in aclosed position. Said machine further presents a second door adapted sothat provides access to a service section, whereby said first and seconddoors develop in coplanar manner when in a closed position.

Moreover, it is known to provide machine for preparing beverages withmilk frothing devices, adapted so that can be attached in removablemanner, thereby providing the possibility of cleaning thereof.

The document EP 2875761 A1 discloses a machine for preparing beveragesof the type of the present invention with a frontal door that providesaccess to a milk frothing device.

The document DE 20 2009 004756 U1 discloses a machine for preparingbeverages whereby a milk frothing device is adapted so that can bepushed and thereby fitted in removable manner into a correspondingmachine part. In particular, it is in this case preferred when the pushdisposition is provided with a box corner region. Moreover, it ispreferred when said push disposition presents a protruding element forbetter handling thereof. However, said push disposition is a pieceseparated from the machine casing and presents openings for passingconnection tubes on the exterior side of the casing, so that resultfragility points exposed to shocks and other types of accidentaldamages.

None of the aforementioned devices presents a solution in view of theconfiguration and disposition of means of access to particularcomponents of a machine for preparing beverages.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the present invention is to provide a machine forpreparing beverages with possibility of improved access to severaloperational components inside of the casing of said machine, both byauthorized technicians, requiring the use of special tools, and bynormal users, without requiring the use of tools.

This objective is attained according to the present invention by meansof a machine for preparing aromatic beverages, such as for exampleespresso type coffee and similar, comprising a machine casing a flowpressurization means inside of said machine casing, in particular twoflow pressurization devices, for example of the pump type or similar,and providing access by technicians for assembling and disassembling ofsaid flow pressurization devices, without the need for disassembling thewhole casing and without thereby providing access to other sensitivecomponents of said machine, such as the control device thereof.

According to an inventive aspect, said machine presents a casing withcasing walls that develop along the side faces and a posterior face,whereby at least one of said side faces and posterior face presents atleast one first access element to said flow pressurization means, butdoes not provide access to control means of said machine.

It is preferred when the machine for preparing beverages is adapted sothat can heat up at least one processing fluid to a temperature of atleast 50° C., preferentially to at least 80° C., and pressuring up aprocessing fluid up to a pressure of at least 2 bar, preferentially atleast 8 bar.

The machine for preparing beverages according to the present inventioncan be used for preparing coffee, milk, tea and similar, and water canbe used as processing fluid in that preparation.

It is preferred when the beverage preparation machine further providesmilk frothing, in particular by means of flow mixture means thatcomprise a milk frothing device by means of mixing a milk flow with apressurized water vapour flow supplied by one fluid pressurizationdevice, preferentially one of the two fluid pressurization devicescomprised in said machine.

It is preferred when said milk frothing device is provided as aremovable part arranged adjacent to an collection device of ediblesubstance, in particular a brewing device, and directly above a beveragedischarge disposition.

According to another inventive aspect, said machine casing furthercomprises a second access element, also arranged on a side face of saidmachine casing, and adapted so that provides only access to a milkfrothing device, so that said milk frothing device can be disassembledfor cleaning and again assembled without the need of any tool for suchpurpose.

According to another inventive aspect, said discharge means comprise adischarge casing that presents a respective casing opening confined by aside wall and a base wall that includes discharge passageways, wherebysaid discharge casing comprises retention elements on the perimeterregion of casing opening, adapted so that provide a removable retentionof said discharge casing on said machine casing, without requiring theuse of tool for such purpose.

It is preferred when said discharge means comprise a discharge casingthat presents a respective casing opening confined by a side wall and abase wall that includes at least one, preferentially two dischargepassageways disposed on a side opposite to said casing opening, wherebysaid discharge casing comprises retention elements, preferentiallyarranged in substantially mutually opposite positions on the perimeterregion of said casing opening, whereby said retention elements areadapted so that provide a removable retention along a verticallongitudinal plane of said discharge casing on said machine casing, sothat said casing is confined above by a downwards oriented portion ofsaid machine casing when retained thereon by said retention elements,whereby said retention elements are adapted so that can provideretention on said machine casing and release therefrom by means ofmanual actuation thereof without requiring the use of tools for suchpurpose.

It is preferred when said discharge casing is disposed with said casingopening oriented upwards when on a position of retention on said machinecasing, thereby completely confining the flow conduction elements insideof said discharge casing relative to the exterior thereof, and when saiddischarge casing further comprises at least one flow connection oftubular type adapted for discharging of milk and provided in connectionand/or extension of one of said discharge passageways, whereby said flowconnection is preferentially provided as a single piece with saiddischarge casing so that said flow connection can be removed forcleaning together with said discharge casing.

It is preferred when said discharge means present a respective dischargecasing provided so that can be swivelled around a horizontal axisbetween a retention position where said discharge casing is at asubstantially horizontal position, and a non-retention position where itis at an oblique position.

It is preferred when said discharge casing is adapted so that can beremoved from corresponding part of retention at said machine casingaccording to at least one of: a downwards rotation movement and,optionally, a frontwards displacement movement away from said machinecasing; and, an at least approximately vertical downwards movement awayfrom said machine casing, so that can be again retained on thecorresponding part of retention at said machine casing by means ofrespectively reverse movements.

It is preferred when said discharge casing is adapted so that can beretained in removable manner on said machine casing by means of ascrew-like connection.

It is preferred when said discharge casing is adapted so that can beretained in removable manner on said machine casing by means of tworetention elements that provide at least one of: conduction guides ofdischarge casing for retention thereof on the corresponding part ofretention at said machine casing; and, support of connections ofremovable type without requiring the use of tools, including at leastone of male-female connections, such as for example of thepressure-fitting type, and connections between materials, such as forexample of the magnetic type.

It is preferred when said discharge casing presents retention elementsadapted so as to provide to the user the tactile perception of correctretention of said discharge casing on the corresponding part ofretention at said machine casing.

It is preferred when said discharge casing presents positionapprehension elements, for example contact sensors of the electric type,magnetic type, and similar, adapted so as to provide data to controlmeans relating to the correct retention of said discharge casing in thecorresponding part of retention at said machine casing.

It is preferred when at least one of said machine casing and saiddischarge means, preferentially said discharge casing, presentsinformation display elements adapted so as to display information to auser relating to the correct retention of said discharge casing in thecorresponding part of retention at said machine casing.

LIST OF FIGURES

The invention shall hereinafter be explained in greater detail basedupon schematic representations of preferred embodiments and in theattached Figures.

The Figures show:

FIG. 1: first side view of a first embodiment of a machine (1) accordingto the invention;

FIG. 2: second side view of the embodiment of machine (1) according toFIG. 1;

FIG. 3: front and posterior views of the embodiment of machine (1)according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 4: side view of the embodiment of machine (1) according to FIG. 1,with the discharge casing (7) on an initial opening position;

FIG. 5: first side view of a first embodiment of a machine (1) accordingto the invention, with the discharge casing (7) on an initial openposition;

FIG. 6: second side view of a first embodiment of a machine (1)according to FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 represent a machine (1) for preparing beverages accordingto the present invention, adapted for preparing aromatic beverages, suchas for example espresso-type coffee, tea and similar, by means ofbrewing a respective single portion in a brewing chamber by means of anupstream pressurized fluid flow, so as to obtain a beverage downstream.

This type of machines is known from an expert in the field so that it isherewith abdicated from a more detailed description of respectivecomponents.

According to a first inventive aspect, said machine (1) presents amachine casing (2) with side and posterior walls, whereby at least oneof said side and posterior walls of said machine casing (2) presents atleast one of a respective first and second access elements (21, 22) tothe interior of casing (2), whereby at least a first access element (21)provides access to the interior region of said casing (2) where thereare disposed said fluid pressurization means, and optionally at leastone of said fluid storage means (3), but not to said control means (8),so that said fluid pressurization means (5) can be assembled anddisassembled from respective fluid connections internal to said casing(2) without disassembling said casing (2).

For safety reasons, it is preferred when the access to said fluidpressurization means (5) further requires the removal of an interioraccess element (210), for example in the form of a plate or similar(identified in the drawing by the dotted line), that is accessible bymeans of opening of said first access element (21) and that presentsremovable attachment means, whereby said attachment means are adapted sothat the removal of attachment of said interior access element (210)preferentially requires the use of a tool for such purpose.

It is preferred when said side walls of casing (2) present a first andsecond access elements (21, 22), adapted so that provide access todifferent components, whereby said first and second access elements (21,22) are preferentially provided on the same side wall but with at leastone of different shape and different dimension.

It is further preferred when said posterior wall of machine casing (2)presents a third access element (23) adapted so that provides access tosaid fluid storage means (3).

As can be better observed in FIG. 2, said first access element (21)provides access to the fluid heating means and to the fluidpressurization means a (5), as well as to at least one of the fluidreservoirs (3), for example a milk reservoir.

It is preferred when said fluid pressurization means (5) comprise twopressurization devices (51, 52) adapted so as to provide different flowpressure values, whereby one is dedicated to water pressurization andthe other is dedicated to water vapour pressurization, whereby saidfirst and second pressurization devices (51, 52) are disposed next toeach other and are adapted so that can be directly accessed from a sidewall of said casing (2) via said first access element (21).

It is thus advantageously provided an access to fluid pressurizationmeans (5) by technicians, without the need of removing the while machinecasing (2) and of touching in other internal components of said machine(1).

As can be better observed in FIG. 2, the machine (1) in this casefurther comprises a milk frothing device (9) adapted for mixture of theflow originating from said second reservoir (32), in particular a milkflow, with a flow generated by said second pressurization device (52),in particular a vapour flow, whereby said milk frothing device (9) isarranged inside of said casing (2) on a region lateral relative to saidcollection means (6).

Said milk frothing device (9) requires periodic maintenance by the user,in particular cleaning thereof. Said second access element (22) providesaccess for this purpose without requiring the use of tools, and withoutproviding access to other internal components of machine (1).

Moreover, according to another preferred embodiment, said accesselements (21, 22, 23) present a respective actuation part (24) adaptedso as to at least indicate an appropriate region for handling theopening thereof, preferentially providing support to handling of openingthereof, including for actuation of an attachment device that does notrequire the use of a tool, such as for example a pressure-fitting deviceor a magnetic device. Moreover, it is preferred when said accesselements (21, 22, 23) present a similar actuation part (24), wherebysaid actuation part (24) is preferentially adapted so as to providesupport to a finger.

The machine (1) further includes discharge means (7) that comprise adischarge casing (71) that presents a respective casing opening (72)confined by a side wall (73) and a base wall (74) that includes at leastone, preferentially two passageways (75), developing opposite to saiddischarge casing (72).

Said discharge casing (71) is disposed with said casing opening (72)oriented upwards so as to confine with said casing (2) when in a closedposition, thereby completely confining the flow conduction elementsinside of the discharge casing (71) relative to the exterior thereof.Moreover, said discharge casing (71) further comprises at least one flowconnection of tubular type adapted for discharging milk and provided inconnection and/or extension of one of said discharge passageways (76),whereby said flow connection is preferentially provided as a singlepiece with said discharge casing (71) so that said flow connection canbe removed for cleaning together with said discharge casing (71).

There is in this case also the issue of the possibility of expediteaccess to the interior of said discharge casing (71), in particular forperiodic cleaning of the associated with the flow of milk.

According to an inventive aspect, said discharge casing (71) is adaptedso that can be removed from a corresponding part of said machine casing(2) according to at least one of: a downwards rotation movement and,optionally, a frontwards displacement movement away from the machinecasing (2); an at least approximately vertical downwards movement awayfrom the machine casing (2), and so that can be again retained in thecorresponding part of said machine casing (2) by means of respectivelyreverse movements.

According to a preferred embodiment (not represented in the drawings)said discharge casing (71) is adapted so that can be retained inremovable manner on said casing (2) by means of a screw-like connection.

FIG. 2 further represents a first embodiment of the movement of removalof said discharge casing (71). In particular, said discharge means (7)present a respective discharge casing (71) provided so that can beswivelled around a horizontal axis between a closed position where it isin a substantially horizontal position and an open position where it isin an oblique position.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, said discharge casing (71) can beretained in respective part of machine casing (2) by means of adownwards rotation movement, as represented in the left-hand sidedrawings of FIGS. 3 and 4.

In particular, according to an inventive aspect, said discharge casing(71) comprises retention elements (76) in the perimeter region of thecasing opening (72), preferentially disposed in substantially mutuallyopposing positions and adapted so that provide a removable retention ofsaid discharge casing (71) on said casing (2), without requiring the useof tools for such purpose.

It is preferred when said discharge casing (71) is adapted so that canbe retained in removable manner on said casing (2) by means of tworetention elements (76) that provide at least one of: conducting guidesof discharge casing (71) for retention in corresponding part of saidmachine casing (2); support to connections of removable type withoutrequiring the use of tools, including at least one of: male-femaleconnections, such as for example of the pressure-fitting type, andconnections between materials, such as for example of the magnetic type.

It is herewith provided an easy and ergonomic disassembly and assemblyof said discharge casing (71).

As represented on the right-hand side drawings of FIGS. 3 and 4, saidposterior wall of casing (2) can further present a third access element(23) on the posterior wall of machine casing (2), adapted so thatprovides direct access to fluid storage means (3).

According to another preferred embodiment, said fluid storage means (3)comprise a first reservoir (31) for water and a second reservoir (32)for milk, whereby said first and second reservoirs (32) are providedwith similar shape and dimensions, and optionally inside of the machinecasing (2).

FIGS. 5 and 6 represent a second embodiment of a machine (1) accordingto the present invention, whereby said first access element (21) isadapted so that only provides access to said fluid pressurization means(5).

As represented, the fluid storage means (3) are provided on an exteriorpart of the machine casing (2).

It is preferred when said access elements (21, 22, 23) are provided aselements that provide access to the interior of casing (2) by means ofat least one of: an actuation movement, including as at least one of adoor-like element that can swivel around an axis, and of a curtain-likeelement that can be rolled-up or folded-up on a respective supportassociated with said machine casing (2), and an operation of retentionremoval of said access element (21, 22, 23), including at least one of:male-female connections, such as for example of the pressure-fittingtype, and connections between materials, such as for example of themagnetic type. Moreover, it is preferred when said access elements (21,22, 23) are adapted so that be opened up and closed without using a toolfor such purpose.

Moreover, FIGS. 5 and 6 represent a second embodiment of the retentionof the discharge casing (71) on a corresponding part of the machinecasing (2).

In particular, the discharge casing (71) presents retention elements(76) adapted so that can be actuated by means of a vertical movement anda removable attachment, for example by means of pressure-fitting and/orby means of magnetic elements.

It is preferred when said discharge casing (71) presents retentionelements (76) adapted so as to provide to the user a tactile perceptionof the correct retention of said discharge casing (71) on acorresponding part of machine casing (2).

It is preferred when said discharge casing (71) presents positionapprehension elements, for example contact sensors of electric type,magnetic type, and similar, adapted so as to provide data to saidcontrol means (8) relating to the correct retention of said dischargecasing (71) on a corresponding part of machine casing (2).

It is preferred when at least one of said machine casing (2) and saiddischarge means (7), preferentially said discharge casing (71), presentsinformation display elements adapted so as to display information to auser relating to the correct retention of said discharge casing (71) ona corresponding part of machine casing (2).

These elements advantageously provide a more reliable and ergonomic useof said discharge casing (71).

The invention claimed is:
 1. A machine (1) for preparing beverages,including espresso coffee, comprising: a machine casing (2) thatpresents side, top and posterior walls, thereby configuring aparallelepiped form, a fluid storage (3) provided on a posterior part ofsaid machine (1), a fluid heater (4) and fluid pressurizer (5) providedinside of said casing (2), a discharge means (7) associated with saidmachine casing (2) and presenting passageways for discharge ofbeverages, a fluid collector (6) provided on a front part of the machine(1) above said discharge means (7), and adapted for collecting a singleportion of edible substance, and a control means (8) provided inside ofsaid machine casing (2) and adapted to actuate said fluid heater (4) andfluid pressurizer (5), wherein at least one of said side and posteriorwalls of said machine casing (2) presents at least a first and a secondaccess element (21, 22) adapted to provide access to the interior ofsaid machine casing (2), whereby at least the first access element (21)provides access to the interior of said machine casing (2) where thereis arranged said fluid pressurizer (5), but not said control means (8),so that said fluid pressurizer (5) can be installed and replaced onrespective fluid connections internal to said casing (2) without removalor disassembly of said casing (2).
 2. The machine according to claim 1,wherein one of said side walls of said machine casing (2) presents saidfirst and second access elements (21, 22), each being adapted to provideaccess to a respective confined space inside of said casing (2), withoutaccess to further spaces inside of said casing (2), and adapted tocontain different components of said machine (1), whereby said first andsecond access elements (21, 22) are provided on the same side wall ofsaid casing (2) but with at least one of a different volume shape and adifferent volume dimension.
 3. The machine according to claim 1, whereinsaid posterior wall of machine casing (2) presents a third accesselement (23) adapted to provide access only to said fluid storage (3)inside of said machine casing (2), and to no other component or spaceinside of said machine casing (2).
 4. The machine according to claim 3,wherein said access elements (21, 22, 23) are adapted to be actuated byeither being moved or being attached relative to said machine casing(2), thereby providing access to respective confined spaces andcomponents inside of said machine casing (2).
 5. The machine accordingto claim 4, wherein said access elements (21, 22, 23) can be actuated toclose and open thereby providing access to a respective confined spaceinside of said casing (2) by means of at least one of: a movement ofsaid access element (21, 22, 23) relative to said machine casing (2),said access element (21, 22, 23) being provided as at least one of: adoor element that can rotate around a respective axis, and a curtainelement that can roll or fold relative to a respective support, and aretention of said access element (21, 22, 23) relative to said machinecasing (2), said access element (21, 22, 23) being provided with atleast one male-female-type connection, whereby said access elements (21,22, 23) are adapted to be opened and closed without a tool.
 6. Themachine according to claim 5, wherein the male-female type connectioncomprises at least one of a pressure-fitting device or a magneticattachment device.
 7. The machine according to claim 4, wherein theaccess elements (21, 22, 23) are opened and closed, supported by aconnection to said machine casing (2).
 8. The machine according to claim3, wherein said access elements (21, 22, 23) are provided in at leastone of said side walls of said casing (2) and are adapted to be openedby means of a swivelling movement around a vertical axis, in manner of adoor opening in the direction from a front part towards a posterior partwith relation to said casing (2), and to be closed by a reversemovement, thereby providing improved ergonomics in relation to aposition of a user of the machine (1).
 9. The machine according to claim3, wherein each of said access elements (21, 22, 23) presents arespective actuation part (24) adopted to at least indicate a regionthereof appropriate for handling a respective opening relative to saidmachine casing (2), and to provide support for handling a respectiveopening, including for actuation of an attachment device that does notrequire the use of a tool.
 10. The machine according to claim 9, whereinthe attachment device comprises at least one of a pressure-fittingdevice or a magnetic attachment device.
 11. The machine according toclaim 3, wherein each of said access elements (21, 22, 23) presents anactuation part (24), whereby said actuation part (24) is adapted so asto provide support for a user's finger.
 12. The machine according toclaim 3, wherein said access elements (21, 22, 23) present a trapezoidalshape and a dimension that corresponds to at least most of the heightand at least most of the width of respective regions of side walls andposterior wall.
 13. The machine according to claim 1, wherein said firstaccess element (21) provides access to an interior access element (210),provided in the form of a plate, arranged so that the access to theinterior space that contains said fluid pressurizer (5) further requiresthe removal of said interior access element (210), whereby said interioraccess element (210) is provided so that removal thereof requires theuse of a tool.
 14. The machine according to claim 1, wherein said fluidpressurizer (5) comprises one or both of a first and a second fluidpressurization device (51, 52), arranged on a central region of themachine casing (2) along a depth thereof, so that a weight of said fluidpressurizer (5) is on a central region of a volume defined by saidmachine casing (2), relative to the depth thereof.
 15. The machineaccording to claim 1, wherein said fluid pressurizer (5) comprises twopressurization devices (51, 52) adapted to provide different flowpressure values, whereby said first and second pressurization devices(51, 52) are arranged next to each other and are adapted to be directlyaccessed by means of said first access element (21) from one of the sidewalls of said casing (2).
 16. The machine according to claim 15, whereinthe machine further comprises first and second reservoirs as well as amilk frothing device (9) adapted for mixture of a milk flow originatingfrom said second reservoir (32), with a vapour flow generated by saidsecond pressurization device (52), whereby said milk frothing device (9)is arranged inside of said casing (2) on a region lateral relative tosaid fluid collector (6).
 17. The machine according to claim 16, whereinthe second access element (22) is disposed on a top region of saidcasing (2) above said discharge means, and adapted to provide accessonly to said milk frothing device (9) by means of manual actuation ofsaid second access element (2), so that said milk frothing device (9)can be uninstalled for cleaning and again installed, without requiringany tool for such purpose.
 18. The machine according to claim 1, whereinsaid fluid storage (3) is provided inside of said casing (2) andoccupies least part of the width of the interior space confined by saidcasing (2) in the posterior part of said machine (1), and wherein saidfirst access element (21) further provides access to said fluid storage(3).
 19. The machine according to claim 18, wherein said fluid storage(3) occupies at least most of the width of the interior space.
 20. Themachine according to claim 1, wherein said fluid storage (3) comprises afirst reservoir (31) for collecting and supplying water, and a secondreservoir (32) for collecting and supplying milk.